General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Leaves: Other: Mature growth has no leaves including spines.
Fruit: Showy
Edible to birds
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Yellow
Flower Time: Spring
Summer
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Erosion control
Will Naturalize
Edible Parts: Fruit
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Drought tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Needs specific temperature: 68-86 degrees
Suitable for wintersowing
Start indoors
Can handle transplanting
Other info: Seeds may be extremely slow to germinate
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Layering
Division
Other: Individual pads form new plants; they must dry and callous for 10 days before planting
Containers: Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil

Image
Common names
  • Spineless Prickly Pear
  • Tigertongue
  • Prickly Pear
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri
  • Synonym: Opuntia engelmannii var. cacanapa
  • Synonym: Opuntia engelmannii subsp. lindheimeri

Photo Gallery
Location: My Garden
Date: 2020-04-22
This one could be called "Mickey".
Location: j c raulston arboretum, ncsu,  raleigh, north carolina
Date: 2021-05-25
Location: South Jordan, Utah, United States
Date: 2019-09-22
Location: Cisco, Tx (between Dallas and Abilene)
Date: 2018-09-30
Location: South Jordan, Utah, United States
Date: 2019-07-28
Location: My yard in Arlington, Texas.
Date: 2013-06-20
The flowers are amazing and only last one day.
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-06-07
Spineless Prickly Pear Blossom 001
Location: South Jordan, Utah, United States
Date: 2019-07-28
Location: South Jordan, Utah, United States
Date: 2019-04-07
Location: South Jordan, Utah, United States
Date: 2021-11-15
The lignified (woody) skeleton of a dead and mostly decomposed yo
Location: My yard in Arlington, Texas.
Date: 2013-06-09
The entire plant has no spines.

Photo Courtesy of Secret Garden Growers.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: South Jordan, Utah, United States
Date: 2018-05-26
Uploaded by JamesAcclaims
Uploaded by JamesAcclaims
Location: Wildflower Center Austin, Texas.
Date: Summer 2000
Spineless cactus flowers are beautiful.
Location: My yard in Arlington, Texas.
Date: 2013-06-09
Pad and bud.
Location: My yard in Arlington, Texas.
Date: 2013-06-09
Close up of bud.
Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 2012-04-02
Pad (or tuna) of this prickly pear
Location: South Jordan, Utah, United States
Date: 2019-07-24
This plant is tagged in:
Image

Comments:
  • Posted by Meredith79 (New Hampshire - Zone 5b) on Aug 18, 2017 7:55 AM concerning plant:
    Purchased one from a local Nursery, I thought I was buying Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa) which looked similar in my memory.
    Upon entering it I see no references to it being hardy in Zone 5 so we shall see.
    Tag Info Says:
    Hardiness Zone 5 (-20°F) to Zone 8 (10°F)
    Exposure: Full Sun
    Height: 24" (61 cm) tall
    Spacing: 12" (30 cm) apart
    Bloom Time: Early Summer
    Water Needs: Requires excellent drainage, drought tolerant.
    Striking Yellowish-orange flowers attract butterflies to the garden. The evergreen pads of this variety are nearly thornless. A beautiful and novel choice for dry rock gardens, stone walls and perennial gardens. Thrives in poor soils; will spread considerably in ideal conditions.

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